NEARLY DROWNED BY A DOG.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 88, 16 October 1869, Page 5

NEARLY DROWNED BY A DOG.

" W. J. Gr." writes to the "Times " the following story : — " Last Saturday I took my first bathe of the season in the beautiful and retired pool below the weir at Odney, near Cookham. This pool, like most of the weirs on the Thames, is known to be dangerous when much water is coming down, as the under currents are very strong, flowing directly back beneath the upper down currents until they reach the boarding, which is extensively undermined. As the river was low, no danger was to be apprehended on this score, even by a poor swimmer out of practice, like myself. I had with me a young retriever of very large breed, a famous swimmer, which, unheeding, I left on the bank untied. My boatman, who is a fine swimmer, bathed at the same time. As soon as I took a ' header ' into deep water from the sill, the dog jumped in after me, following at a short distance as I swam across the pool. As I seemed to be able to keep away from him, I never thought of danger or inconvenience from this. After resting a while, I started off again, swimming on my back and splashing with my feet, when friend 'Eolio,' doubtless thinking his master was in a bad way, hastened with all speed towards me. Having turned on my breast, I was then swimming leisurely away, about the middle of the pool, which is over fifteen feet deep, when I felt the dog close upon me, his claws scratching my back. I struck out hard, but could not get away fast enough, his claws scratching my back terribly, and bobbing my nose under water repeatedly, till % he sent me right under many feet by putting his paws on my shouldera. When I came up out of breath, and with, my mouth, full of water, at hia side, I yelled out as well as I could, 'Quiet, Eollo !' This was heard above the noise of the waterfall, and called 1 the attention of some gentlemen, near the bridge, but it failed

in its eifect on my dog, who, delighted to see me above water again, came to fondle me, and, putting his paws on my shoulders and head, as he swam over me, shot me down under water ever so far. Luckily, nature gave me a calm temperament and presence of mind in dangers worse than this, and as I was going down deeper and deeper I said to myself, ' Good God ! this dog will drown me if I can't get away ; nay only chance is to dive away from him under water.' Immediately I turned under water and struck out away, as fast as possible, and as long as I could. The boatman tells me he had seen or heard nothing of this swimming to the far side of the pool, when, turning round at this moment, he saw neither of us, and he got alarmed, as I kept so very long under water. He says the dog must have dived after me. When I came up, greatly spent and out of breath, to my horror the dog was close to me. I struck out for the shore for dear life, but immediately he was upon me. I cast a despairing glance around. I saw the boatman was too far off to reach me in time, or even to get me up in time if I sank in the deep water. I saw the gentlemen running, and one running round to the nearest bank. I said, ' They will come too late if I can't help myself now.' I thought, < Shall I seize hold of the dog ? No ; he- will tread me down in front before I can turn myself round, and I cannot reach his back. Good God ! I shall be drowned if I don't mind.' Again he was upon me. Again he trod me under with his paws as he swam over me, sending me far down. The water gurgled in my ears, the light above shone dim in my eyes as I went down to the depths ; but, luckily for me, my brain kept clear, and I could still think. It flashed across me, 'The only chance left me now is to strike him hard on the nose. 5 Again I came up, gasping and exhausted, and, luckily, he was -close to my right side, when, with all my might on the tender part of his nose, I drove him away three or four yards, and then struck out for the shore, a race for dear life, my faithful clog close at my heels. I saw a "gentleman running to the bank to help me. ' Strength for a few more strokes and I shall be saved.' It was with heartfelt thankfulness I touched the ground with my knees, and with utter exhaustion I staggered the two paces up the bank, and fell down with heaving chest and gasping breath, unable to move, while my poor dog licked me all over to show his gladness at my having got out safe. It was a quarter of an hour before I could stand, and the scratches on my back, from stem to stern, were something to look at. However, I was determined not to give way to my dread of the water after so narrow an escape, and, making the boatman hold the dog, I got into the water again and swam a few strokes, then tumbled out, very glad to get into my clothes again. I know now what is best to be done if ever lam in the same difficulties-. It was hours before I recovered my strength, so hard had I fought for life in those few moments of time. Having had so narrow an escape of my life, for probably the dog would have prevented those from diving successfully after me who were ready to help me, and whom I take this opportunity most sincerely to thank, I think it becomes my duty to warn all others, as few know what a dangerous companion is a dog in the water, unless indeed specially broken in.